EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN
PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (IISD)
WRITTEN AND EDITED BY:
Elisabeth Corell
Wagaki Mwangi
Steve Wise .
Managing Editor
Langston James Goree VI "Kimo"
A DAILY REPORT ON THE EIGHTH SESSION OF THE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE TO THE CONVENTION TO
COMBAT DESERTIFICATION
Vol. 4 No. 78
Tuesday, 6 February 1996
INCD HIGHLIGHTS
MONDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 1996
The eighth session of the intergovernmental negotiating
committee, which runs from 5-16 February in Geneva was
opened by INCD Chair Bo Kjellén (Sweden) at 3:30 pm. After
welcoming the delegates, Kjellén quickly got to work and
concluded the session half an hour early. The delegates
heard general statements from representatives of UNDP, UNEP,
IFAD and Mongolia’s Minister for the Environment.
PLENARY
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA: The Chair noted that minor
objections had been raised regarding the organization of
work in the Annex to document A/AC.241/42, the Provisional
Agenda. The document and annex were adopted with the Chair’s
urging that delegates strive to complete work by Thursday 15
February rather than 16 February as listed. Delegates also
approved the five non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
recommended for accreditation in document A/AC.241/9/Add.11.
UNDP Executive Director James Gustave Speth observed a
growing global imperative to fight desertification, drought
and environmental degradation. He said that combating
desertification is a part of UNDP’s poverty elimination and
environmental regeneration efforts, including UNSO, trust
funds, and activities under UNDP’s core budget. Resources
allocated in over 70 countries affected by desertification
total over US$1 billion, almost 38% of UNDP’s core resources
from 1992-96, and a portion supported dryland development
and anti-desertification activities. Through UNSO, US$11
million has been mobilized to support national, sub-regional
and regional activities and to consolidate projects in the
most affected countries. UNDP will provide technical and
financial support to establish national desertification
funds.
UNDP considers establishment of the Global Mechanism (GM) of
great importance and is prepared to act as host for the GM,
but its operations, functions and funding arrangements must
be clarified. The key questions include: what the GM should
be; its hosting arrangement; how to channel resources for
promotional activities; linkages with other organizations;
and ways to promote resource mobilization. The GM should not
manage the funds mobilized.
He suggested categories for GM functions: promoting resource
mobilization; optimizing existing resources; developing
mechanisms to channel resources; facilitating partnership
funding arrangements; collecting, analyzing and
disseminating information on funding sources; facilitating
financing of arrangements for technology transfer; advocacy
actions; and reporting to the COP.
Desirable features of the GM’s host would be: capacity and
experience in dryland management and drought control;
ability to promote resource mobilization; an information
network of funding sources; analytical capability; contacts
in funding sources and developing countries; the ability to
design and promote innovative funding mechanisms; and
familiarity with the funding arrangements of post-Rio
conventions and GEF. He said while UNDP meets the criteria,
it is not exclusively qualified to host the GM and will
support another host.
He proposed that INCD consider a co-hosting arrangement
under which UNDP would share GM operations with another
institution, possibly IFAD. He also suggested that INCD
explore pilot or advance work for the GM before selection of
a host, including collection and analysis of information and
identification of measures for optimal use of existing
resources.
He proposed basic maxims for the GM: sustained political
commitment; transparency; commitment to create partnerships
and enabling conditions; neutrality and universality of the
GM; and adherence to bottom-up, participatory processes in
programme and project design.
UNEP Deputy Executive Director, Reuben Olembo, informed that
UNEP will launch an integrated environment management
programme when sufficient funds are received. He said that
UNDP and IFAD are the best equipped to host the GM. Olembo
hoped that the Committee on Science and Technology (CST)
will be established as soon as possible. He stated that
UNEP, with 20 years experience and as a GEF partner
responsible for the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel
(STAP) would support the close cooperation between CST and
STAP. Olembo further assured the meeting that UNEP would be
honored to host the permanent secretariat and suggested that
close synergy can be achieved through UNEP's common
resources. UNEP’s Caring for Lands Programme will be devoted
to supporting the implementation of the Convention. Together
with the Interim Secretariat, UNSO and others, UNEP is
launching a global drylands awareness raising strategy.
Another objective of the Programme is to prepare a new
drylands assessment together with UNDP/UNSO. UNEP’s new
programme on social dimensions, including reports and
projects, will provide more insights on human causes and
impacts on dryland degradation. Olembo stressed UNEP’s
tradition of cooperation with UNSO, FAO and its new ties to
IFAD. UNEP also has strengthened its relationship with NGOs
and encourages the NGO network on desertification, RIOD. He
finally announced that the executive summary on a workshop
on Combating Global Warming by Combating Land Degradation
contains information on the carbon cycle in the drylands and
that Interactions of Desertification and Climate by Williams
and Balling and Social Aspects of Sustainable Drylands
Management, based on a UNEP workshop, are now available as
books.
Shigeaki Tomita, Assistant President, Economic Policy and
Resource Strategy Department of IFAD, outlined the various
collaborative arrangements it has undertaken with several
agencies including FAO, IPGRI, UNEP and UNSO, in the context
of the implementation of the CCD. In 1996, IFAD and the
World Bank will begin to develop a pipeline of Global
Environment Facility projects that address land degradation.
The projects are intended to serve as an accelerated
learning programme on the design of projects that combat
poverty and land degradation, while meeting other global
environmental objectives. He also elaborated on the
achievements of the Hunger and Poverty Conference that IFAD
co-hosted with other institutions. As a follow-up to that
meeting, IFAD has agreed to pursue the establishment of
pilot national desertification funds as part of a coalition
of civil society and financial institutions. IFAD and the
CCD Secretariat will also host in Rome in June 1996 the
International Forum on Local Area Development for CCD
Implementation. IFAD’s interdepartmental Task Force on the
Convention will aim to ensure that the annual budget of
US$150-200 million that the institution will commit for
programmes in dryland and marginal areas contributes to
achieving the objectives of the CCD.
INCD Chair Kjellén said he was struck by the common themes
of cooperation, the desire to involve NGOs, and the need to
emphasize local action and participation. He said that
despite progress toward entry into force, the CCD is still
struggling to become sufficiently well known and to be
integrated into development and development cooperation
strategies.
He reviewed actions toward entry into force, possibly in the
second half of 1996, and said he intends to hold
consultations this week on the venue for COP-1. He said this
session’s Working Group could reach agreement on a mandate
for the Committee on Science and Technology (CST) as well as
on practical issues related to establishing a roster of
experts. Discussions on the GM should clarify its functions
and define intersessional work to prepare decisive action at
INCD-9.
Executive Secretary Arba Diallo presented the documents
before the Committee, which were requested by a Resolution
of the Committee at INCD-7. He drew attention to the Report
of the Secretary General as contained in document
A/AC.241/44, dealing with the administrative arrangements
that could be provided by the UN to the permanent
secretariat. Document A/AC.241/52 on the review of the
situation as regards extra-budgetary funds covers the
contributions made for the negotiation process and the
special fund for the participation of developing countries.
Kjellén said that because some delegations had raised
questions on the voluntary fund, Diallo will make a
preliminary presentation of the document on the issue on
Wednesday, but the substantive discussion will be held on
Monday of the second week.
Diallo also presented new brochures entitled ‘CCD Update’
that highlight recent developments and interim activities in
the various regions and elaborated on some of these
activities. Since INCD-7 nine African countries have held
national awareness-raising seminars. Six more are planned.
Cape Verde has organized a national forum and Mali has
scheduled one in February 1996. Two sub-regional meetings
have been held; one in the Maghreb and the other in the SADC
region. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the Ninth
Conference of Ministers was held in September 1995 and the
first regional conference held in Argentina in January 1996.
National meetings have also been held. In the coming months,
the Secretariat plans to support a meeting in Asia,
including national seminars. The Secretariat also supported
the regional NGO meetings in Ica, Peru and Islamabad,
Pakistan.
Diallo noted that the dynamics of the signature and
ratification processes have shown the determined commitment
of the international community to the CCD process.
Mongolia’s Minister for Nature and Environment, Z.
Batjargal, outlined the activities his country has
undertaken with respect to the implementation of the CCD,
noting that poverty, hunger and desertification are
interlinked and should therefore be tackled together. He
stressed the need for increased North-South collaboration in
addressing the problem of desertification. Mongolia has
already developed its national programme of action in line
with the principles of the Convention. Mongolia is also
preparing to ratify the Convention this year.
IN THE CORRIDORS
Response to statements on the Global Mechanism made this
afternoon by representatives from various agencies indicates
that the GM will be a central issue at this session.
Although agencies were willing to take on some of the
responsibilities they also seem to favor the possibility of
co-hosting. Some delegates say that a combination of
institutional cultures would be the preferred strategy. Some
noted that whereas UNDP has the technical capacity, IFAD has
the banking approach. NGOs agree that co-hosting is
preferable. Look for an NGO paper providing proposals on the
subject.
THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY
PLENARY: The EU, the Russian Federation, Bangladesh and
Costa Rica, on behalf of the G-77 and China, will make their
opening statements when Plenary meets at 10:00 am today. The
Plenary next will take up Agenda Item 4, Status of Signature
and Ratification, which will be followed by Agenda Item 3,
Special Action: Urgent Action for Africa, with initial
presentations by South Africa, Namibia, Mali, Senegal and
others. Discussions will focus on national awareness
seminars and donor country coordination activities.
FUTURE PROGRAMME OF WORK: Wednesday, the Chair hopes to have
a presentation on the comprehensive study being made by a
number of international organizations including UNEP and
WMO, on the relationship between water and land management;
and on energy issues related to the drylands. Discussion on
other regions will start with Asia with presentations by
China and India and an exchange of views on problems in the
Middle East region. Argentina will make a presentation on
the conference held in the Latin America and Caribbean
region. Spain will report on the Northern Mediterranean.
REGIONAL GROUP MEETING: WEOG & OECD countries of the Common
Interest Group will meet today at 2:00 pm in room XXII.
COMPUTER WORD PROCESSING: Facilities are available for
delegates and NGOs in room 2066.
This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (c)
is written and edited by Elisabeth
Corell , Wagaki Mwangi
and Steve Wise
. The managing editor is Langston
James Goree VI “Kimo” . The sustaining
donors of the Bulletin are the International Institute for
Sustainable Development and the Pew
Charitable Trusts through the Pew Global Stewardship
Initiative. General support for the Bulletin for 1996 is
provided by the Overseas Development Agency (ODA) of the
United Kingdom, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
and the Ministry of the Environment of Iceland. The authors
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